What is the best way to prepare for BCT at age 30?

2016-10-22T10:37:21-04:00

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Oct 22 at 2016 11:14 AM

2016-10-22T11:14:31-04:00

Push-ups and running.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2016 1:34 PM

2016-10-22T13:34:03-04:00

If you're good on PT, start studying your required knowledge. It will be one less thing you will need to worry about and it will help those awards you want to earn.

http://www.armystudyguide.com/content/Prep_For_Basic_Training/index.shtml

Prep for Basic (ArmyStudyGuide.com)

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2016 1:51 PM

2016-10-22T13:51:16-04:00

Had some late 30's - 40's guys in. Your biggest hurdles at least for the guys I knew will be dealing with the kids in BCT (I went in at 25 and had problems with it) and then the constant PT. You will want to acclimate yourself accordingly, get into stretching and working out regularly before you go. Cut down on the sugar and caffeine you won't get any of it there and you'll feel the pain of it if you don't cut back before you ship.

You may be given a slightly different treatment due to age, they know they don't have to treat you the same as a 17-18 year old recruit.

Get a hold of a Blue Book if yu can and start studying basic army knowledge.

Response by 1SG Al Brown made Oct 22 at 2016 8:17 PM

2016-10-22T20:17:56-04:00

I did it at 30, and so can you. Continue to run the same way you are doing. Learn to keep your mouth shut. Have Yoda like patience to deal with 17 year old testosterone outbursts. You will be chosen as a leader, so be one when you are supposed to be. You'll figure it out. See you at graduation Sapper.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2016 8:41 PM

2016-10-22T20:41:38-04:00

Mentally prepare yourself to handle the fact that you're not an adult anymore when you get there. You will be treated the same as 18 and 19 year olds. This is going to be happening for awhile in your career. You'll have a lot of people a lot younger than you in charge of you. It can be difficult for some people.

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Oct 23 at 2016 1:49 PM

2016-10-23T13:49:10-04:00

Physical Fitness is the key to it as the mental part of training is harder if all you are thinking about is your sore muscles and the pain from all the demands placed upon you. It is the exact same thing that bothers the NCOs and Soldiers that attend WOCS. Being physically fit allows you to concentrate on your studies and training. I was a late bloomer coming in myself and attending flight school, before I joined while waiting for basic, I used to train with a Houston Oiler Football player and he ran the ever living dog poop out of me and I asked him to. We developed a great relationship as he lived in my apartment complex. Just get after it and you will do fine.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2016 6:38 PM

2016-10-23T18:38:07-04:00

I came in at 36, turned 37 during Week 5 of BCT. You will get teased by the kids a lot... So make sure you are physically ready to answer back in the form of APFT excellence. As others have suggested, learn the required knowledge so you are that much further ahead.

Wean yourself off caffeine and cigarettes (if you smoke). If you enjoy sodas, wean yourself off them too. I went from sodas to iced tea to flavored carbonated water to juices to water. I gave myself about a month to prepare for BCT. It made a huge difference.

Your main hurdle, assuming you are good on PT, will be dealing with the kids. They will do stupid stuff and get everyone in trouble. All punishment/corrective action in BCT is mass punishment. So be ready for that. As one of the older recruits, I was a squad leader for 7 of the 9 weeks. I got "fired" once, but that only lasted 2 days because the other guy was messed up. So be ready to step up and be that leader. Do not overlook anything.

My secret was going to bed as early as possible (personal time), and getting up an hour early in order to shave, get dressed, and square away my area before anyone else was even awake. That helped out a lot too.

Each platoon is different, so observe and go with what works. You'll know it when you feel it.

Good Luck!

Response by SFC Glen S. made Oct 24 at 2016 6:04 AM

2016-10-24T06:04:36-04:00

Since you will be running a lot during training, work on that. Your APFT or Fitness Test are graded by push-ups, sit-ups, and two mile run. When you discipline yourself to knock your physical training out, you will at the same time start working on your mental preparedness. Use the study guide mentioned on other posts. It will surely help you get ahead. Keep a positive attitude and you will do just fine. Good luck

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2016 8:59 AM

2016-10-24T08:59:15-04:00

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate, Listen, Keep quiet when necessary, don't give into the 18-19 year olds that you will be training with, keep up with your PT and challenge yourself (never get too comfortable), Hydrate, keep your feet dry, don't do anything stupid, and hydrate.

Response by SFC Stephen Carden made Oct 24 at 2016 9:11 AM

2016-10-24T09:11:56-04:00

Physical fitness notwithstanding, one of the most important things you can do for yourself before leaving for BCT is to make sure your family is squared away. Do a sweep of your house and make sure everything is good so your wife doesn't have to deal with repairs. Make sure you leave behind a will, instructions for how to operate things around the house (best if you write those down), and a general power of attorney (if you trust your wife). If you are not married, then make sure your mom or dad have your will and POA. Talk to your kids about what you are doing, and what you expect of them while you are gone. Line up a family member or friend to check in with your family on your behalf just in case something comes up. Make sure your wife or girlfriend knows the rules about contacting her during BCT. Make sure your family is enrolled in DEERS during processing, and make sure she knows how to use medical and dental benefits. Make sure she knows what will happen after you graduate AIT as far as moving and packing and such (you will find out all about this when you get to AIT). Doing all of this stuff will free your mind to concentrate on getting through BCT and AIT. You do not need to be worrying about your family while you are there. That is the only advantage that the kids will have over you. Otherwise, you are at a much greater advantage during training than them simply because you have more life experience and your frame of reference is much wider. For most of those kids, this experience will be the toughest, most stressful thing they have ever been through. I'll bet that you have been through much worse by now. BCT is all about learning to work as a team, and you guys will catch hell until you do. Be the guy who gets everyone on the same page. My 18 y.o. nephew and my 19 y.o. (at the time) son just went through BCT, and they thought it was pretty easy. You will be fine.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2016 6:13 PM

2016-10-24T18:13:50-04:00

Your biggest hurdles will be the physical fitness and the culture shock you will have. Everyone gets culture shock, but with your age, it will be worse.

Response by Sgt Sal Hirto made Oct 26 at 2016 8:00 AM

2016-10-26T08:00:20-04:00

run your ass off, push ups/pull ups